Oshawa receives $1.5 million for Hwy. 407 work

Four projects to be fully funded by the Province

Hwy. 407

OSHAWA -- The Province is making a hefty contribution to Oshawa road construction to offset the impact of Hwy. 407 traffic on local roads.

The Province will fully reimburse the City for four roads projects totalling almost $1.5 million.

The most expensive project is a $533,000 intersection improvement at the Harmony Road North and Columbus Road intersection. The work will include asphalt resurfacing, improved drainage and turning lanes. The intersection will be a four-way stop with an overhead flashing light.

Provincial money will also cover a $511,000 road upgrade and resurfacing on Harmony Road North between Columbus Road and the 407 and similar improvements on Columbus Road from Harmony to Grandview Street at a cost of $414,000.

A $35,000 Bridle Road cul-de-sac will also be paid for by the Province.

Gary Carroll, director of engineering services of the City, said the intersection improvements and the cul-de-sac work will be completed this year while the road resurfacing will be done in 2015.

Oshawa councillors thanked Mr. Carroll and his staff for lobbying the Province for the funding. The road work is necessary to accommodate the increased traffic expected on local roads as a result of the extension of the 407.

City staff will design and tender the work and then invoice the Province for the costs.

“You can tell, the committee is pleased to say the least,” said development services committee chairman John Aker earlier this week in reaction to the news that Province is picking up the tab.

Phase one of the Hwy. 407 East extension is slated to be completed in 2015, extending the highway from Brock Road in Pickering to Harmony Road in Oshawa. It also includes the construction of the West Durham Link that will connect Hwy. 401 and Hwy. 407 in Whitby near Coronation Street.

Phase two of construction has been divided into two segments. The extension of the freeway from Harmony Road to the East Durham Link is slated to be completed in 2017. The construction of the east link to Hwy. 35/115 and to Hwy. 401 is expected to be completed in 2020.

In April, the Province announced the release of a request-for-proposals for the construction of phase two to three short-listed consortiums.

For more information about the Hwy. 407 extension including a list of local road closures, visit 407eastphase1.ca.

Reporter Reka Szekely covers the City of Oshawa for Metroland Media Group’s Durham Region Division. Reka's social media column appears every other week. Contact her on Facebook, Twitter (@rszekely)